— Trevor Story has hit 10 home runs this season, tied for most April home runs by a rookie in MLB history. Story started out fast, hitting seven home runs in his first six games, the fastest player in MLB history to reach seven career home runs. His average home run distance is 421 feet, third-longest among MLB players with at least five home runs. Six of Story’s 10 home runs have been 425 feet or longer, most in MLB.

— Nolan Arenado’s 471-foot home run off San Diego’s James Shields on April 10 at Coors Field was the longest home run hit this month. This was the longest home run of Arenado’s career by 24 feet (447 feet, 2015).

— Arenado has hit 10 home runs this season, tied with Story for most in MLB. All but one of the home runs was pulled to left field. Arenado, who made his major league debut in 2013, has pulled 66 of his 80 home runs, not hitting even one homer to right field (14 to center). Since the start of 2013, Arenado is the only player to hit more than 45 home runs without at least one of those homers hit to the opposite field.

And then there is this tidbit from the Elias Sports Bureau:

— Story doubled and tripled in the Rockies’ 5-2 win at Arizona Saturday, giving him 17 extra-base hits since the first game on April 4. The only players in modern history (since 1900) with as many extra-base hits in the month in which they made their major-league debut are Joe DiMaggio (23 XBH in May 1936) and Albert Pujols (17 in April 2001).

Two weeks into the season, the Rockies won a second player of the week award after third baseman Nolan Arenado was named co-winner in the National League with Washington’s Bryce Harper.

Arenado went 9-for-27 over the seven days, including a 4-for-5 day Wednesday with two home runs and a career-high seven RBIs against the Giants. And his two solo home runs Sunday helped lead the Rockies to an impressive 2-0 victory over the Cubs in Chicago.

Arenado is back in a power zone. He is hitting .280 this season with six home runs and a team-high 16 RBIs. This is his third NL player of the week award.

Late-night reflections after the Rockies’ wild 10-6 victory over the Giants at Coors Field Wednesday night:

** Dennis White, a press box attendant for four years at Coors, suggested that I weave the song “Don’t Fence Me In” into my game story. For you millennials out there, it was a popular song written by Cole Porter and popularized by Roy Rogers. (Don’t ask)

I didn’t use Dennis’ suggestion for a couple of reasons. First, I was on a tight deadline and didn’t have time. Second, I already get razzed for loving 66-year-old Bruce Springsteen, so I’m sure as heck not going to reference Roy Rogers.

Despite a rocky spring training, Rockies right-hander Jordan Lyles will start Friday’s home opener at Coors Field against the Padres.(Chris Carlson, The Associated Press)

MARINERS 8, ROCKIES 5At Salt River Fields

Scottsdale, Ariz. — For most of the Rockies regulars, Saturday’s Cactus League finale against the Mariners was a throw-away game. The plan: make a cameo appearance, get in a couple of at-bats and then get out with out getting hurt.

Not so for right-hander Jordan Lyles, who has been tabbed to start the regular-season home opener against the Padres on Friday at Coors Field.

Lyles struggled throughout spring training, entering Saturday’s game with a 7.88 ERA and a team-high four homers surrendered in 16 innings. So he needed a solid outing.

What he got was an uneven performance. He allowed one run, three hits and two strikeouts over three innings. That sounds pretty good, but he also walked three, and half of his 30 pitches were outside the strike zone.

“We didn’t give up as many runs, but I did give up three walks, which is not ideal,” said Lyles, who finished the spring with a 7.11 ERA. “I’m going into this season healthy, and that’s exciting. I’m just looking for a healthy season and hoping to contribute to the team.”

His best pitch of the game was a 3-2 sinker he threw to Mariners slugger Robinson Cano to start an inning-ending double play in the first.

HITS
** Nolan Arenado finished his splendid spring by going 1-for-2 with a single. Arenado finished the Cactus League season hitting .542 with six homers and 17 RBIs.

** Ben Paulsen had an RBI double in the second inning and finished the spring hitting .298.

MISSES
** Lefty Chris Rusin, a possible fifth starter once he’s built up his arm, had a bad day. The Mariners lit him up for four runs on three hits and drew two walks in one inning.

** Right-handed reliever Justin Miller, who appears to be a lock to make the team, also struggled. He gave up three runs on two hits and three walks in his inning of work.

UP NEXT
The Rockies finished the Cactus League with a (15-13-4) record. They open the regular season on Monday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. (7:40 p.m MDT, Root TV, 850-AM radio).

De La Rosa, the Rockies’ veteran left-hander pegged to start Monday’s regular-season opener at Arizona, gave up four runs on four hit in three innings to Milwaukee. His final spring ERA: 6.10.

Arenado, hitting .566, ripped a two-run homer to left in the sixth inning, scoring Carlos Gonzalez, who had reached on a double. It was Arenado’s sixth homer.

The most disconcerting aspect of De La Rosa’s bad outing were his four walks, including three in the third inning when he walked Ramon Flores to force in a run. At the point, De La Rosa let loose with a scream of frustration.

Asked if he was upset with himself or over home plate umpire Jordan Baker’s strike zone, De La Rosa said, “I don’t want to talk about it. I didn’t pitch very good.”

De La Rosa said he’s healthy, but he knows he didn’t perform well during the Cactus League.

“I wanted to finish stronger than that,” he said. “I walked too many guys and gave up too many base hits.”

Is he ready to open the season?

“Yes,” he replied. “I didn’t have the results I wanted to, but I will work on the things I have to work on to get better.”

Such as?

“Everything,” he said. “I was pitching terrible today. I have to get ready for my next start.”Read more…

Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood struggled through three innings against the Mariners on Thursday.(Getty Images file)

MARINERS 10, ROCKIES 8At Salt River Fields

Scottsdale, Ariz. — Sloppy.

That’s the best word to describe the Rockies’ performance Thursday against the Mariners. With the seemingly endless day and games starting to blend together, it was bound to happen, but it wasn’t pretty.

Both starter Tyler Chatwood and lefty reliever Yohan Flande struggled against the Mariners. It didn’t help that Colorado committed five errors — three of them coming in succession in Seattle’s three-run second inning. Chatwood threw wildly to first, first baseman Ben Paulsen mishandled a groundball and Gerardo Parra bobbled a hit in left field, allowing runners to advance.

Manager Walt Weiss was not too concerned.

“I think we are going to be a very good defensive team,” he said.

Chatwood was touched for four runs (one earned) on seven hit over three innings. He walked one and struck out two.

“I threw too many pitches those first two innings,” said Chatwood, who finished with 64 pitches, 38 for strikes. “I wasn’t happy with that. I wanted to go deeper than that, but when the pitch count goes up in spring training you really don’t get a chance to keep pitching.

“Overall, I wasn’t very sharp today. My two-seamer was about the best it’s been and my cutter was the best it’s been, but overall I didn’t mix it up well.”

Flande, who is a huge long shot to be the fifth starter now that Jon Gray is injured, gave up his first runs of spring training. He was not sharp, yielding four run on four hits in two innings and uncorking a wild pitch.

HITS
** Carlos Gonzalez had a nice day at the plate, batting 2-for-3 and driving in three.

** Catcher Dustin Garneau, who’s been struggling at the plate, had two hits, including a double off the left-field wall to lead off the second.

** Trevor Story, the likely starting shortstop, went 2-for-4 and drove in a run. Both of hits were to the opposite field (a good sign) and he raised his average to .333.

** Cristhian Adames slapped a two-run single to center in the bottom of the ninth as the Rockies cut the Mariners’ lead to 10-8.

MISSES
** Nolan Arenado finally cooled off. He was 0-for-3 with a strikeout and also committed a throwing error. It was the first time in 15 Cactus League games that Arenado didn’t get a hit. Still, his spring average is a robust .561.

** Seattle hammered reliever Brian Schlitter for two runs over five hits in one inning.

Rockies right-hander Jon Gray left Tuesday’s game against the Brewers in the first inning because of tightness in his abdomen.( Lisa Blumenfeld, Getty Images)

ROCKIES 6, RANGERS 5 At Salt River Fields

Scottsdale, Ariz. — The game began on a somber note when starting pitcher Jon Gray departed in the first inning after feeling tightness in his abdomen.

He underwent an MRI to determine the extent of the injury, but there was no immediate word on the results or how long he might be out.

Rockies batters, meanwhile, got hot.

Charlie Blackmon, Nolan Arenado and Gerardo Parra all hit home runs. Arenado’s two-run shot in the third was his third of the Cactus League season. He finished the game batting 1-for-3, his average dipping — if that’s the right word — to .605

HITS
** Catcher Nick Hundley, who’s quietly having a solid camp, drove in two runs with a two-out single in the fifth to put the Rockies ahead 6-2.

** Lefty reliever Boone Logan had his best inning of spring, pitching a clean sixth, striking out one.

MISSES
** Right-hander Christian Bergman faced a difficult task, coming out of the bullpen cold to replace Gray in the first. Bergman ended up walking three batters in the Brewers’ two-run first inning. He settled in after that, allowing just one base runner over his next three innings.

** It was not a good day on the hill for right-handed reliever Scott Oberg. The Brewers reached him for three runs on two hits in the seventh, the big blow a two-run homer by Alex Presley.

WHAT’S NEXT
The Rockies have their only off day of the Cactus League season on Wednesday. They resume play on Thursday, hosting the Seattle Mariners at Salt River Field, 2:10 p.m. MDT (TV — ROOT Sports; Radio — 760 AM)
Rockies’ pitchers — LHP Yohan Flande, RHP Jason Motte, RHP Justin Miller, LHP Boone Logan, RHP Miguel Castro.
Mariners’ starter — TBA

Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis battled through a messy third inning to lift his club to a win against the Rangers Monday in Cactus League action.(Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)

ROCKIES 9, RANGERS 6 At Surprise Stadium

Surprise, Ariz. — Chad Bettis’ pitching line didn’t look very pretty at the end of Monday’s game. Three runs allowed on seven hits over five innings.

But throw out a messy third inning in which the Rangers had five hits and scored all three runs, and it looks better.

Then, throw out the fact that the Rangers put down two perfect bunt singles and didn’t hit the ball very hard and Bettis’ spring outing looked pretty darn good.

“I felt good. I think it’s the best I’ve felt all spring,” Bettis said. “When we put up a two-spot in the top of the fourth, that’s when you have to go out there and make sure that you do what you can to keep them from scoring again.

“You have to keep your team in the ballgame. I know it’s spring training, but at the same time, it’s important to lay it all out for my teammates.”

Rockies manager Walt Weiss was impressed.

“It’s huge,” Weiss said. “Chad goes out and has a difficult third, but he keeps it together, minimizes damage, throws up zeroes and he leaves the game with the lead. That’s the types of things we need from our pitchers. … That’s a great job from Chad.”

HITS
** Nolan Arenado continued his scorched-earth spring. He finished the day 2-for-2 with a walk and is now hitting .629. He has 22 hits in 35 at-bats with multiple hits in eight consecutive games.

But it’s not just the production that impresses Weiss.

“Every time I give him the option, he wants to play,” Weiss said. “Nolan always says he wants to play. He was supposed to have today off, but he wants to make the trip to Surprise. He’s the only everyday player that wants to do that.

“So he chose to play three days in a row and travel to Surprise rather than having a day off. But, as we all know, that’s Nolan.”

** New left fielder Gerardo Parra is beginning to heat up. He hit his first homer and went 2-for-4, improving his average to .306.

** Cristhian Adames, who appears to have locked up a spot as backup shortstop and infield utility player, played well at second base. He also went 2-for-4 and smacked his second home run.

** First baseman Ben Paulsen drove in two runs with a single in the fourth. He’s hitting .303.

MISSES
** Right-hander David Hale, making his first Cactus League appearance after being kept out because of a sore hamstring, looked a bit rusty. The Rangers tagged Hale for one run on three hits in 1 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out one.

Scottsdale, Ariz. -— Nolan just kept on rollin’, but starter Jorge De La Rosa and reliever Jason Motte had a tough Sunday afternoon.

Nolan — Arenado, that is — went 2-for-3 with a double and a single in his first two at-bats, raising his batting average to a white-hot .606 (20-for-33). He leads the Cactus League in hits, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

The three-time Gold Glove third baseman has a hit in all 12 games in which he’s played, and has multiple hits in seven straight games.

De La Rosa, who entered the day having allowed only two runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings, got pinballed by the Giants. They beat him up for four runs on eight hits over five innings.

“Everything was bad. It was a bad game today,” De La Rosa said. “(Physically) I felt really good. I had no luck there, especially with (Brandon) Belt (who had two broken-bat base hits.)”

There were two pieces of good news for De La Rosa. One, his arm feels strong. Two, it’s still just spring training.

“I hope everything bad happens now and not in the season,” he said, managing a smile.

The Giants treated Motte like it was batting practice. The free-agent acquisition, who is competing for the closer’s job, gave up four runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning, including an enormous homer to center by Belt (4-for-4, four RBIs).

“He just left too many pitches over the plate,” manager Walt Weiss said.

HITS
** Non-roster invitee Yohan Flande continues to push for a spot in the bullpen. The lefty pitched a clean sixth inning, striking out two.

** Center fielder Charlie Blackmon launched his first homer of the Cactus League, a solo shot to right to lead off the Rockies’ first inning.

** Catcher Nick Hundley hit a two-out solo homer in the sixth. His shot to left was his first homer of spring.

** Reliever Miguel Castro continues to look untouchable. He pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning, striking out one. He has yet to give up a run, has allowed one hit, struck out five and walked none in four innings.

MISSES

** Reliever Justin Miller gave up two runs, including a homer, in his 1 1/3 innings of work.

** Carlos Gonzalez’s bat stayed cold. He went 0-for-3 and is hitting .206.

** Dustin Garneau, the likely backup catcher now that Tom Murphy has been sent down to Triple-A, also is struggling at the plate. Filling the designated hitter role Sunday, he was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, dropping his average to .118.

Rockies all-star third baseman Nolan Arenado continued his Cactus League tear Friday, hitting a triple and a double and boosting his average to .600.(Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)

ROCKIES 6, ANGELS 6 (9 innings)At Tempe Diablo Stadium

Tempe, Ariz. — The Rockies’ spring training dynamic duo might want to save some of their hot at-bats for the regular season.

Third baseman Nolan Arenado continued his ridiculous Cactus League tear by going 2-for-3 with a triple and a double. He’s hitting .600. Translation: 18 hits in 30 at-bats.

Prospect Trevor Story, the likely starting shortstop when the Rockies break camp, went 2-for-3 and knocked in two runs. Story is hitting .321 (9-for-28) and leads the Rockies with four home runs and 10 RBIs.

HITS
** Rebounding from a rough last outing, right-hander Jordan Lyles, who’s a lock for the starting rotation, tossed four scoreless innings.

“Most importantly, I wanted to work on being more aggressive,” said Lyles, who gave up two hits, walked two and struck out one. “It was about not giving in and (I wanted) my body language out there to be more aggressive.”

** Right-handed pitching prospect Antonio Senzatela, just 21, got chance to start against the Angels. Facing a lineup that included Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Yuniel Escobar, Senzatella did fine. He pitched three innings, giving up two runs on four hits. Trout and Pujols were 0-for-4 against him.

MISSES
** Right-hander Brock Huntzinger had a tough day. In one-third inning, the Angels bombed him for three runs on four hits, including a three-run homer by second baseman Rey Navarro.

** Minor-league outfielder Alex Castellanos was hit in the hand by a pitch in the seventh inning and was immediately removed from the game.

The Rockies anticipate there will be a few gems tossed during the season, but most off all they are counting on Bettis’ bulldog mentality and ability to keep his team in the game.

He displayed that quality Wednesday against the Dodgers, pitching his scheduled four innings, giving up two runs on five hits, walking two and striking out two.

Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis gave up two runs on five hits over four innings Wednesday in the Rockies’ Cactus League game against the Dodgers. (Denver Post file photo)

“His first inning was a long inning, but he was able to buckle down after that,” Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado said. “I think that’s what we need. I think last year, our pitchers would get into trouble in one inning and the next inning it would be the same old inning. When you throw a lot of pitches in one inning, you have to be able to shore it up.”

Bettis gave up a leadoff walk and a double and a run in the first, but he used a groundball double play to face the minimum in the second.

“That’s one of the positives I took out of today’s outing,” manager Walt Weiss said. “He expects to do well and he expects a lot out of himself. He has a great mentality and never gives in. He believes he can can execute pitches to get out of jams.”

The one pitch Bettis wanted back was a changeup he left high in the zone in the fourth inning. Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig scorched it for a solo homer onto the grassy berm beyond the left-field fence.

“It was up. It was a poor pitch, right to the barrel of his bat,” Bettis. “It’s one of those pitches you want back, but it’s spring training and you learn to make adjustment.”

HITS
** Arenado went 2-for-3 with an RBI and is now hitting .593. The Dodgers went into an extreme shift to the left side during his at-bat in sixth, but he crushed the ball down the third-base line for an RBI double.

** Second baseman Tony Wolters, acquired off waivers before the start of camp, continues to rake. He batted 1-for-3 and is now hitting .482.

MISSES
** Prospect Carlos Estevez had a rough eighth inning. He lacked command and the Dodgers took advantage, scoring three runs runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. Two runs came across when Estevez uncorked a high wild pitch that catcher Dustin Garneau had trouble locating.

** Right-hander Christian Bergman struggled a bit, giving up two runs on two hits in his three innings. Bergman, bidding to be Colorado’s long reliever, did strike out three.

Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa has looked good in the early stages of spring training.(Denver Post file photo)

ROCKIES 6, ATHLETICS 2At Salt River Fields

Scottsdale, Ariz. — There is usually something bothering Jorge De La Rosa at some point in spring training.

In past years, the Rockies’ left-hander worked through physical issues, especially tightness in his groin. Not this year.

De La Rosa, who paid special attention to improving his flexibility during the offseason, has bolted out of the gate like a thoroughbred. He had pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings over his first two appearances until Oakland’s Matt Chapman finally tagged him Tuesday afternoon, belting a two-run homer with two outs in the fourth.

“I felt good,” De La Rosa said. “The mistake I made with (Chapman) was the only big one I made. My control wasn’t there, but I was able to get the outs when I needed them.”

Oakland’s first inning was proof of that. The A’s loaded the bases when Jed Lowrie got an infield single and Billy Butler walked, but De La Rosa turned stingy, striking out Josh Phegley and getting Jake Smolinski to groundout to shortstop Trevor Story.

De La Rosa’s line: 3 2/3 innings, five hits, two runs, two walks and two strikeouts.

HITS
** .583. That’s what Nolan Arenado is batting in the Cactus League. The all-star third baseman smacked a first-inning double to left and added a run-scoring single in the fifth. In 24 at-bats, he has 14 hits.

** New outfielder Gerardo Parra, who started in center, stole second and then stole third in the fifth inning, scoring on Arenado’s single.

** Mark Reynolds, starting at first base and hitting fifth, smashed a three-run homer in the third off Oakland starter Rich Hill.

** Left-hander Yohan Flande, trying to find a way to make the roster, continues to impress. He pitched three innings of one-hit baseball, striking out two. His spring ERA is 1.29.

MISSES
** It was not a good day at the plate for Carlos Gonzalez. He went 0-for-3, striking out twice.

** First baseman Kyle Parker was charged with an error when he misplayed a slow chopper in the eighth. It was a difficult play, but Parker should have made it.

Sunday afternoon at Salt River Fields, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw did what he usually does to the Rockies. He shut them down. The left-hander threw five scoreless innings in a Cactus League game.AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

DODGERS 6, ROCKIES 4At Salt River Fields

Scottsdale, Ariz. — Here’s the most important thing to know about Sunday’s Cactus League game between the Rockies and the Los Angeles Dodgers: Rockies right-hander Jordan Lyles, who will likely be the club’s No. 3 or No. 4 starter, needed 55 pitches to struggle through 2 1/3 innings. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw needed only 61 to get through his five scoreless innings.

“I guess that’s the good thing about spring training — you have these types of outings and it’s a lot easier to get over it, find the positive and move on,” Lyles said after getting rocked for four runs on five hits.

He pitched for the cycle, giving up a home run to Scott Van Slyke to lead off the second, and later served up a double to Cody Bellinger and a triple to Andre Ethier. To add to the misery index, Lyles walked Kershaw on four pitches in the second inning to load the bases and set up Joc Pederson’s two-run single.

Lyles fastball command, so sharp in his last outing, was AWOL on Sunday.

“I know what was wrong. I should have corrected it while I was out there during the (second) inning or when (I went) back out there for the third inning,” he said. “I’m just falling off, not staying toward home plate.”

Lyle’s outing began with a crisp first inning in which he set down the order and struck out Chase Utley on a gorgeous changeup.

Rockies shortstop prospect Trevor Story hit his third home run of spring training Saturday against the Brewers.(Rich Pilling, Getty Images)

BREWERS 7, ROCKIES 6At Maryvale Baseball Park

Phoenix — The Rockies’ starting shortstop job remains up for grabs, but Trevor Story is doing everything he can to claim the position as his own.

Story, the Rockies’ first-round pick in 2011, went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. He hit a solo home run in the Rockies’ three-run fourth inning, his third homer of spring. After Saturday afternoon’s game, he autographed the baseball from a fan who said he had tracked down the home run ball to center

Story, 23, has yet to make his big-league debut, but he’s battling Cristhian Adames for the starting job.

“The guys are doing well,” manager Walt Weiss said Saturday morning. “We are just going to let it play out. They have all shown up well. It’s not like I’m going to name a starter at that spot yet. We have some time.”

Right-hander Jon Gray pitched an uneven three innings, giving up two runs on four hits, walking two and striking out one. Gray has been working through camp on his new curveball, but he said he plans to ditch it, at least for now, in game situations.

”Until it’s good enough to where I can locate it and throw it where I want to, I’m not going to use it in the game,” Gray said. “But I’ll continue to work on it (in bullpens). If they want me to throw it, I’ll throw it. But if it’s in a tough situation where I’m not way ahead of the batter, then I’m going to shake to the slider. I was happy (with my performance).”

HITS

** Third baseman Nolan Arenado, who hit 42 homers and drove in 130 runs last season, continued his solid spring. He hit a scorching two-run homer to left off the Brewers’ Tyler Cravy in the fourth inning. It was the second home run of the spring for Arenado, who’s hitting .556 in the Catcus League.

** Outfield prospect Raimel Tapia continues to show off his speed and athleticism. He hit a triple into the right-field corner, turned on his jets and cruised into third base.

MISSES
** Lefty pitching prospect Tyler Anderson was scratched from his scheduled start because of a sore right oblique. The Rockies announced the change just before first pitch. The team’s top draft pick in 2011, has a 6.75 ERA in two Cactus League games. He missed last season because of a stress fracture in his left elbow suffered late in the 2014 season at Double-A Tulsa.

** Right-hander Brian Schlitter had a tough fourth inning, facing eight hitters and giving up three runs on four hits and a walk.

Scottsdale, Ariz. — Carlos Estevez’s long-shot bid for an opening-day spot in the Rockies’ bullpen took a hit Thursday after he allowed four hits and three runs in a rough ninth inning.

The Reds rallied late to win, knocking two doubles off Estevez. He recorded just two outs before Brock Huntzinger spelled him for the third out. Rafael Ynoa’s sacrifice fly to score Ryan Casteel in the bottom of the ninth wasn’t enough to rally the Rockies.

The Rockies bullpen to start the season likely will include LHP Jake McGee, RHP Jason Motte, RHP Chas Qualls, LHP Boone Logan and RHP Christian Bergman in long-relief. Justin Miller and Scott Oberg are the leading candidates among bubble arms.

That leaves one or two spots open. Estevez was likely battling against Miguel Castro and German Marquez among younger arms looking to break through. But Simon Castro, Gonzalez Germen and Sam Moll remain options.

Chris Rusin remains in starter’s mode after missing six days with an inflammed middle finger. But he’s out of minor-league options. So moving him to the pen would be a roundabout way of keeping him around. Which would alter the order.

HITS

** Nolan Arenado doubled off Reds starter Brandon Finnegan to raise his average to .500 and OPS to 1.221 in 16 at-bats. He also turned a mid-season looking double play behind Tyler Chatwood in the fourth. “He’s just really good,” manager Walt Weiss said, running out of ways to say it.

Chatwood struggled some in the first of two innings of work, allowing two hits and a run. But he rebounded in the second to go 1-2-3 with a strikeout. “I’m glad he finished on that good note,” Weiss said.

Rockies right-hander Jon Gray showed off an impressive curevball in his 2016 Cactus League debut on Wednesday.(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

Scottsdale, Ariz. — The Rockies’ first Cactus League game of 2016 showcased the promise of right-hander Jon Gray, hinted at trouble for lefty Tyler Matzek and showed the rust on lefty Tyler Anderson.

The Rockies 6-3 to the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday at Salt River Fields as the D-Backs roasted Colorado pitching for 13 hits, including two home runs.

Gray mixed in his new, big, breaking curveball with a 94-97 mph fastball over two scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and walked one. By no means was he dominant, but he was clearly pleased with his performance. His best pitch of the game was a 78 mph curve he used to fan Arizona’s Brandon Drury in the second inning.

“I knew (the curve) was something I wanted to work on early,” Gray said. “It came as a surprise to me that I threw that many. I thought I would throw three or four, but I threw more than that. I’m glad I did, because it’s something I can take with me into the next bullpen.”

Catcher Nick Hundley was the one calling for the curveballs. Gray ended up throwing seven of them.Read more…

Troy Tulowitzki and Nolan Arenado talk on the field before the start of last year’s All-Star Game at the Great American Ball Park on July 14, 2015 in Cincinnati. (Elsa, Getty Images)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Rockies star third baseman Nolan Arenado just shakes his head when he hears about the ongoing feud between former teammate Troy Tulowitzki and general manager Jeff Bridich.

But Arenado takes exception to Tulo’s comments in Monday’s story in USA Today in which Tulo criticizes the “country club” atmosphere at the Rockies’ opulent training complex at Salt River Fields.

“I’ve told you that Tulo is my boy, and he still is my friend,” Arenado said. “But obviously, Tulo has some anger still. I don’t know if it’s the right way to be saying it in the media, but that’s his business and that’s how he’s handling it.

Tulowitzki, who concedes it was a culture shock to his system when he was traded, never could have imagined that he’d be in Florida this spring, tossing a football with reigning American League MVP Josh Donaldson in the Blue Jays’ antiquated spring-training facility. The Blue Jays’ digs are the last of the old relics in spring training, with players boarding buses to travel to the practice fields 3 ½ miles away.

Considering he was leaving behind the Rockies’ 185,000 square-foot spring training facility in Scottsdale, Ariz., including a 1,000 square-foot weight room, it’s like going from a Beverly Hills mansion to a Death Valley trailer park.

All in the eyes of the beholder, apparently.

“I like this place a lot better than Arizona,’’ Tulowitzki said. “That place was like a country club. Guys got comfortable because it was so nice.

“This place has a better feel. It reminds you of spring training. The way it’s supposed to be.’’

News broke Wednesday that Kyle Parker was designated for assignment in order to make room for Gerardo Parra on the 40-man roster. Parker was the club’s first-round pick in 2010 but he never developed into the big-league hitter the Rockies envisioned.

The Rockies decision to cut loose Parker got me thinking about their track record with their first-round draft choices.

It’s not good. Yes, the Rockies have struck gold in the later rounds — think Nolan Arenado (2009, second round), Charlie Blackmon (2008, second round) and Corey Dickerson (2010, eighth round). But there have been far too many busts and too much wasted money.

Bryan Kilpatrick of Purple Row notes the Rockies rank poorly when compared to the rest of the teams in the NL West and their production from first-round picks.

I understand that the MLB draft is a much different animal than the NFL draft. Yet for the Rockies, a team with a losing history and plenty of early first-round picks, draft busts are a very big deal. Here is a snapshot of their top picks since 2005:

The weather still says winter, but Rockies pitcher and catchers report to spring training in just 33 days.

Fans who can’t wait that long for their baseball fix should circle Jan. 23 for the annual Rockies Fest at Coors Field. More than 40 Rockies players, coaches and alumni are scheduled to attend.

All ticket proceeds benefit the Colorado Rockies Foundation.

Ticket information and times for the event can be found in this release from the Rockies:

COLORADO ROCKIES ANNOUNCE TICKETS ON SALE FOR 2016 ROCKIES FEST

Tickets are now available for 2016 Rockies Fest, which will take place at Coors Field on Saturday, January 23 from 12:30-4:00 p.m. MST for the general public with special access being granted to Rockies Season Ticket holders beginning at 8:30 a.m. MST.

The annual event will feature appearances by over 40 Rockies players, coaches and alumni. All ticket proceeds will benefit The Colorado Rockies Foundation, which makes charitable grants to several organizations in the Denver area that support underprivileged and at-risk youth through programs for youth baseball, education and health.

Tickets are $20.00 for adults, $1.00 for children ages 3-12 and free for infants and toddlers under two years of age. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.rockies.com/rockiesfest. Season Ticket Holders may reserve admission tickets for free at the same web address.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.